2 accused of abuse made girl think her name was 'Idiot'

Police arrested an Arkansas couple for allegedly zip-tying a 4-year-old girl to her bed as punishment. (WLS)

Thursday, August 18, 2016

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. --

Police say a 4-year-old Arkansas girl was beaten and abused, and zip-tied to a bed as punishment.

Jennifer Denen, 30, and Denen's live-in boyfriend, Clarence Reed, 47, were arrested. The Hot Springs couple is facing several charges including endangering the welfare of a minor and permitting abuse of a minor.

A police affidavit outlined injuries to the young child, including "deep purple bruising, a blackened eye, a swollen right cheek, scars, dried blood and ligature marks from being restrained."

According to police, when DHS asked the child her name, she stated it was "idiot." Another child living at the house said the couple referred to the girl as "idiot instead of using her name."

Police said Reed admitted to zip-tying the child to a bed after he found her climbing on cabinets.

A neighbor told KARK that her daughter used to play with the child, but suddenly stopped wanting to go over there.

"We didn't know why. We stayed to ourselves and they stayed to themselves," she said.

The Washington Post, citing police, reports that six children - all Denen's - lived at the home. One of them, who is 11 months old, is her only child with Reed.

The 4-year-old girl and the 11-month-old were taken into DHS custody. The remaining four siblings are in the custody of their biological father.

As of Tuesday, Denen and Reed remained in the Garland County jail on $500,000 bond.